Mark Kreditor presents ‘Jews of the American Songbook’ on April 22
Mark Kreditor, pianist and educator, will present “Jews of the American Songbook – From Gypsy to Bye Bye Birdie” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 22 in the Zale Auditorium of the Jewish Community Center of Dallas, 7900 Northaven Road.
The program will focus on fascinating and little-known stories about, and music written by, four of the most extraordinary composers of Broadway musicals – Jule Styne (“High Button Shoes,” “Bells Are Ringing,” “Funny Girl,” “Gypsy”); Frederick Loewe (“Brigadoon,” “My Fair Lady,” “Gigi,” “Camelot”); Charles Strouse (“Annie,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Applause, “Rags”); and Marvin Hamlisch (“A Chorus Line,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” “The Way We Were,” “The Goodbye Girl”).
Mark Kreditor has been educating and entertaining people from coast to coast about the Jews of Tin Pan Alley for more than two decades beginning at Boston’s popular sing-a-long piano bar, Lilly’s, while attending college. Currently, he teaches full classes at the Florence Melton School at the J, at Yavneh Academy and at churches and synagogues from coast to coast.
Come for a magical musical evening to celebrate the incredible work of these composers and benefit the Florence Melton Adult Mini School and the Cultural Arts Department at the J. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please call Rachelle Weiss Crane at 214-239-7128 or Judy Cohn at 214-239-7115.
Tickets for the event are $18 in advance / $25 at the door. For tickets call 214-739-2737 or purchase online at www.jccdallas.org.
‘Dancing with Torah’
Former Dallas resident Robert Curry, who lived in Big D from 1992 to 2002 where he worked in the Dallas market in commercial and industrial products, found his niche in the theater world when he became involved with producing theatrical productions. He found the right cast for his prize-winning documentary “Dancing with Torah.”
“Dancing with Torah” was chosen as the “Best Historical Documentary” in the New York International Film and Video Festival.
Shot in 2000 in Dallas, London and the Czech Republic, it tells the story of 12-year-old Zachary Fine Albert’s quest to acquire a Czech Holocaust Survivor Torah for the Dallas Holocaust Museum.
Featured prominently in the film are Dallas Holocaust survivors Mike Jacobs, Emanuel (Manny) Rohan, Edith Molnar, Rosalie and William Schiff and Helen Neuberg. Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Shalom, Kenneth D. Roseman, is the narrator.
“Dancing with Torah” has been shown at festivals, and in educational settings throughout the United States and Canada. In 2006 it was screened internationally at the Jewish Motifs Film Festival in Warsaw.
Curry said, “It took several years to finalize the production of the film, to help Zach raise funds, and countless trips to London, the Czech Republic and other sites in Europe to achieve their goal.”
Currently, Curry resides in Corpus Christi and Rockport, where he works in pension and retirement planning. Continuing his interest in filming and writing, he helped start the Rockport Film Festival, sponsored by the Rockport Rotary Club and the Rockport Center for the Arts. His next documentary is “Into the Light: The Life and Art of Maurice Schmidt.”
Today, the Torah rests proudly in the Dallas Holocaust Museum. For Zach, it is a dream fulfilled. He is the son of Nancy and David Albert of Plano.
WRJ/Emanu-El Sisterhood experiences the ‘Chai Life’
The Women of Reform Judaism/Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El experienced the ‘Chai Life’ on March 25. It was the donor event of the year.
They met at Temple at 9:30 a.m., registered and received beautiful hand-designed nametags (made by Leah Beth Kolni and Denise Segal). Half of the group left to tour five gorgeous condos at One Arts Plaza in the downtown Arts District. The luxury residences were casual and elegant with 11-foot ceilings, 10-foot glass windows and huge full-width terraces with absolutely gorgeous views of downtown Dallas. The other half of the group toured a magnificent home on Strait Lane. The Aberly/Lebowitz residence was designed by Philip Johnson in the early 1960s as a “Historical Modern” period structure connecting contemporary architecture to historical form. The art collection, with particular emphases on photography and large-scale sculpture both indoors and out, was phenomenal.
Participants met at noon at Fedora’s in One Arts Plaza for a most delicious-three course lunch in this spectacular restaurant. They were welcomed by Lucy Billingsley, who shared the history and development of this unique combination of commercial and residential living. You can dine at five different restaurants or walk to the Meyerson Symphony, the Winspear Opera House or the Wyly Theater!
The day included a marvelous raffle of a $1,000 gift certificate generously donated by Eiseman Jewels; a Dallas Symphony package for four with dinner, donated by Harold and Leah Pollman; dinner for two at Stephan Pyle’s restaurant; a biovisage facial by Renee Rouleau at her spa; gorgeous mother-of-pearl jewelry donated by Deborah Gaspar; an overnight stay at the Ritz Carlton Hotel including breakfast; and a $250 gift certificate from Neiman Marcus.
The day was complete with raves about the great fun that everyone enjoyed. A few comments: “Bravo!!!” “WOW! Chai Life turned out great!” “Many congratulations and kudos for the success and the benefits reaped by the WRJ/Sisterhood!”
Generous donations have supported the Good Works programs of WRJ/ Sisterhood. These include the Food Bank, Israeli Scouts, the Boy Scouts of America, Chai House, Children’s Medical Center, Coalition for the Homeless, Vogel Alcove, Jewish Family Service, the Domestic Violence program, Lifeline, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, United Sisterhoods of South Africa, Israeli Home for Children, Temple Emanu-El Preschool and Religious School and others.
Sunday baseball league for youngsters
Annie Glickman tells the TJP that “a group of baseball enthusiasts is putting together a Sunday league for youngsters. I wanted to let folks know that a group of young boys play on Sunday mornings, 9:45 a.m. at Jamestown Park, just south of LBJ. The coach is Barry Brodsky. All practices and games will be on Sundays. More players between first and third grades are needed to form teams. At this point, there is no cost to participate but everyone will have to buy their uniforms when the final teams are formed.” Interested parents should contact Annie Glickman, 972-312-0355, as soon as possible.